Keeping A Gun In The House By Billy Collins Analysis

At first glance, it appears that Billy Collins poem, Another Reason Why I Don’t Keep a Gun in the House, is about the legality of purchasing and owning a weapon. However, after reading the poem, it is clear to see that the seriousness of the title gives way to an artistic poem about a neighbor's incessantly barking dog.

Owning a gun is a contentious issue that evokes emotion from many who are involved in the debate. In many respects, this is a political poem about the second amendment rights--gun ownership--granted by the United States Constitution. Even though Collins never mentions a gun in the poem itself, he is alluding to the dangers of gun ownership and the temptations to use a gun, even in situations that do not deserve such a dramatic